Every time I see a glimpse of C4 UK TV show ' Miss Naked Beauty' presented by self appointed stylist to the Stars Gok Wan and former pop star
Myleene Klass I want to scream at the TV.
The 'alleged' purpose of Gok Wans latest obsession with getting normal women naked on TV is to find a woman who is so self confident in her nakedness she can whip it all off for us on Prime Time TV and persuade others to do the same. Whipping it all off, includes make up as well as clothes and being an ambassador for other women to do the same, forgoing makeup, clothes and cosmetic surgery. Which brings me to the element that makes me want to scream.
ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
If the show really believed for one second in what they were doing then surely the philosophy of 'less is more' would start with the shows celebrity panel of judges and presenters? Imagine how ridiculous and hypocritical these heavily made up men (yes) and women who are not shy of cosmetic surgery themselves look when they are judging these young women on their bashfulness and their sincerity in wanting to give up makeup for life and shun all things 'beauty industry'.
It is an insult to our intelligence to persuade us that this shows producers or it's presenters are sincere as they blatantly are not. It is a clear case of 'do as we say not do as we do.'
The show Miss naked Beauty tries to persuade us that getting naked on TV takes brains and inner beauty which makes me wonder why instead of recruiting women from the street they didn't just pick a few of these 'brainy' women from the pages of a triple 'x' top shelf magazine. After all those ladies happily get naked on a daily basis for public consumption, why the need to persuade average women to strip off for us too?
The show is so blatantly exploitative and just another excuse to see naked women on TV.
One recent episode showed the naked beauty contestants being made up like glamour models though they looked more like drag queens from the 70's. After which they did a photo shoot. Then they had to get completely naked (though oddly they were allowed to wear makeup - all be it minimum) for the next shoot. The pic was tasteful as the girls covered their breasts and bottoms that was until...presenter Gok Wan (not wanting to disappoint viewers) asked the posing girls to 'high five' him thereby ensuring their hands came away from their bodies to expose their private parts. Cheap Move Gok...very cheap! Far from empowering women he is blatantly exploiting them.
Is it a coincidence Gok's last show was 'how to look good naked' and now he's doing a show called 'Miss naked beauty'? It seems he has found a niche....'Girl next door naked'...how very lads mag!
The purpose of the two contrasting photo shoots was to take the two pics onto the high street and ask men and women which image they preferred..ie. naked or dressed. The show clearly hoped the naked one would get more approval but it appeared to be the case that the drag queen pic gained more favor, based on the fact the women looked more appealing 'dressed'! There is a lesson there Gok Wan!
Meanwhile Myleene Klass makes a living exploiting her nakedness though going without make up is not part of the deal. How odd that she can attempt to persuade women to leave off their makeup while her own is thick and heavy and enough to cover a small cow.
It really is the oddest show.
I might be more supportive of the 'less is more' philosophy if there was one shred of sincerity in how it was presented. Sadly this is not the case and no, I shan't be watching any more episodes!
The blatant Hypocrisy of UK TV show 'Miss Naked Beauty'
Posted: Tuesday, November 18, 2008
by LeahG Artist
Cartoon & Illustration Services
LeahG Artist and Designer
Leah left the retail and health management world a few years ago to become a freelance writer and artist. She now enjoys creating funky vibrant cartoons and illsutrations for websites, promotional materials and as gifts. Leah would love to illustrate her own children's books in the future. Presently she is creating cartoon and cartoon mascots for business clients.
Visit LeahG's Cartoon and Illustration Services website here for updates and latest art work.
Leah left the retail and health management world a few years ago to become a freelance writer and artist. She now enjoys creating funky vibrant cartoons and illsutrations for websites, promotional materials and as gifts. Leah would love to illustrate her own children's books in the future. Presently she is creating cartoon and cartoon mascots for business clients.
Visit LeahG's Cartoon and Illustration Services website here for updates and latest art work.
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Top-level comments on this article: (6 total)"The show is so blatantly exploitative and just another excuse to see naked women on TV."I agree. What a strange show to be on television.. Are they going to make a Mr Naked Beauty? I bet not.Indeed not.....I am undecided as to whether this is a good thing!No, it isn't... As you said it is exploitative and I think almost sadistic as well.
CB, I am unapologetically in love with anything British, including TV. I still watch re-runs of "Keeping Up Appearances" and "Last of the Summer Wine", even those episodes I have watched so many times before. How weird is that...:-)But I am with you on this one. The body is beautiful even naked, but does it have to be on TV? Seriously, are people running out of ideas or is this just another version of "sex sells".
I missed you around here. Tried to send you a shout out, but there was no email contact. Congratulations on the new hobby -- sounds like a lot of fun! I will check out your new site.Thanks Christine, I'm no prude, but the dishonesty of this program really grates..and yes we don't need any more nudity on TV!
Hi Leah,I was alerted about this article via email, and straight away, having scanned its title, here I was reading it!!I have to say that although you are like my voice when you write this, I don't think that the true purpose of the show is to get more nudity on television.Call me naive, but I do admire that, as part of a greater movement, what the show is attempting to promote is the idea of being natural and 'naked' of all the extra things we put on our faces or fake about our personalities.I actually saw Gok Wan today at a book signing in Milton Keynes, and he was pleasantly polite.At least, once one of the girls does win ambassadorship she will have one hell of a difficult job in earning the respect she will need to make any kind of change.Great article!Thanks for your comment Sara, as a Britt, you know exactly the show I am talking about.Gok is a charming fellow that's for sure, and I am certain the contestant who wins will by the end of the show believe in what she is promoting in terms of 'less is more' it's just a shame Myleene Klass can't be 'persuaded' herself to leave off the goop. Goop which I wear myself but then I'm not a mission to tell others not to wear goop!I suppose it's like the warty toad selling a cure for warts, when he clearly hasn't used the cream to any great effect on himself. I love those old fables ;)It's true, this I have noticed. They emphasise that women don't need to hide behind their make-up, and yet, every other scene or more they're caked in it... I guess where I stand on make-up is basically that I think it's fun to experiment with and I wouldn't tell girls not to use it. I do however, agree that you should suit it to the occasion. No point being orange in the winter, for example.I agree, though orange isn't a good look any time of year especially if there is what looks a bath 'tide mark' around the outer edge, where the white meets the orange, bleuhhh. Top Tip ladies .......blend!
Hi CB,
I'm with Christine, I'm partial to the BBC shows here I get to watch whenever I can. I watch both of those she mentioned BUT this is taking it a bit too far, I agree. Great article. This is not only exploitative of females but male chauvinism, too, methinks.
I checked out your blog, it's fantastic! I wish you well with your newly found hobby.
Take care,
AvisThanks Avis, I have made a whopping £2 ($4) profit so far, but it's the fun factor I am enjoying. I am off to find some more dubious treasure tomorrow!
You asked, "why instead of recruiting women from the street they didn't just pick a few of these 'brainy' women from the pages of a triple 'x' top shelf magazine"?While I can't answer for all men, I can answer that question for myself. I have no interest in seeing porn stars, magazine centerfords, hookers, or other loose women nude. There's no thrill in that. To me, they are not real women. They rank just slightly above yard animals in my book. And what's the point of seeing women that are always naked ... naked? The real thrill is uncovering what is normally covered, a conquest of sorts ... and a kind of achievement. Besides, give me a real woman any day.At any rate, now I know I live in the wrong country! TV in the U.S. is so boring. There's not even any nudity on basic cable here, mush less broadcast TV. Even the Lifetime TV version of Channel 4's "How to Look Good Naked" has no nudity. How much sense does that make? We have to subscribe to overpriced premium channels or rent DVDs to see any semblance of nudity here. And even then, when it's stuff made here, the nudity is dished out in very stingy portions. We have to select imported stuff to get anything really good.You Brits are so lucky. Hey, I got an idea -- Channel 4's website! Tata for now ...Regardless you want to see women naked on TV - all tastes differ. This program is supposed to be about empowering women not exploiting them so chaps like you get a cheap thrill. Not that I am judging you mind. Each to their own.
Howdy CB, I'm writing about this article that you wrote awhile ago about the nudity on British TV. I'm not to familiar with that, or the program for that matter. I really can't understand why we have to exploit women to get our kicks at their expense. There are two concerns that really jump out at me, One is the fact that it seems to me that the world is intent to expose the mothers of our woud be generations to come on public television with the world watching, along with the ongoing pressures that this instills in the women of the world to have the need to look like the best looking woman! And two, why do these women go along with this? Why can't we just be happy in our own skins. I know that it is human nature to be curious, but come on, why sensationalize the natural beauty of the woman, or the man for that matter. I am a man of course, and worst still, I am a cowboy, now we have a reputation to be flirtaticious, and being womanizers, etc. It's simply not true. I love "some" modesty, and the difference with THIS cowboy, is that I do respect women,and I think it is very distasteful to do this to women on public television. It's like the Victoria Secrets models, they are running out of secrets, although this cowboy does like their outfits of course!! But all I am trying to say is, I share and echo what you say about this topic. This is not necessary to do, and I for one would not support the program either, especially when the host really don't practice what the preach. Well written, well done, and well said.......Your friend and fan in pen, and trying to help you get that next star back.......Gary.Hi Gary, funny thing is, the same host went on to present 'ten years younger' which gives women makeovers which include plastic surgery and of course loads of makeup so it is the exact opposite message to this shows alleged message. It's all nonsense as you say.
Thanks for commenting :)
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